By Staff
March 4th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
She didn’t strap on the pads but she was in the room for the photo op celebrating the $25,300 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant.
The grant was to help cover the costs of the equipment goalies need to stand between the pipes and stop the puck.
“Through the government of Ontario’s OTF funding stream organizations like BLOMHA are able to provide services and supports that young people need to succeed,” said Natalie Pierre, MPP for Burlington. “I am pleased that the Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association has received funding to help aspiring goaltenders reach their potential.”
Back row left to right: Director of Hockey & Marketing Anthony Miele, Admin. Coordinator Heather Bohlmann, Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre, Executive Director Rick Dawson, Admin. Coordinator Heather Smart. Front row: Luca Ilczyszyn (white jersey) and Kellan Capern (red jersey).
The grant, which was first awarded in September 2023, was used to purchase additional new goalie equipment to be lent out to prospective goaltenders. The goal of the project is to help stimulate involvement of goaltenders in the sport while alleviating the financial barriers faced by those seeking to play the most expensive position in hockey.
“It takes three main components to run a recreation hockey organization- referees, volunteers & goaltenders. This grant helps us to allow the opportunity to provide programming so that kids can stay in hockey in Burlington,” said Rick Dawson, Executive Director of Burlington Lions-Optimist Minor Hockey Association.
The Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association was formed in 1951 by members of the Burlington Central Lions Club and the Optimist Club of Burlington, making it one of the oldest and longest serving youth recreational organizations in our city.
BLOMHA is a volunteer-based organization with approximately 1,800 players registered, making us the largest recreational minor hockey association in Burlington. Our objective is to promote, provide and develop recreational youth hockey within the City of Burlington, and to provide the maximum amount of opportunity for all eligible participants regardless of their ability.
“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”
